'Cracking the Stalinist Crust': The Impact of 1956 on the Australian Communist Party

In February 1956, Khrushchev revealed the truth of Stalin¿s tyrannical years in power. The impact of these revelations was felt throughout the international Communist community. Historical discussion has presented this period as one of significant doubt and questioning amongst Communist Parties throughout the world, in particular within the ranks of parties in capitalist countries such as Australia. The accepted view has been that the Australian Party leadership actively discouraged discussion and debate of the content of what became known as Khrushchev¿s ¿Secret Speech¿. A re-examination of the period reveals that the eventual reaction of the Communist Party of Australia was not to allow discussion of the ¿Secret Speech¿.However, the initial reaction of the leaders was less decisive. What emerges throughout this book is a leadership response that was confused. Indeed, until the Communist Party of the Soviet Union released its official statement Khrushchev¿s revelations in June, the leadership response can be characterised as ¿directionless¿ at best.